Design Advocacy

We believe world-class design, development, and planning is paramount to the vitality and economic competitiveness of Indianapolis and central Indiana.

CAP:IC (College of Architecture and Planning: Indianapolis Center) is committed to being a leading partner in an effort to promote public discourse and understanding around issues facing our community. Innovative ideas to tackle challenges of suburban sprawl, urban decay, social equity, transportation and infrastructure, crime and social policy, environmental degradation, and economic policy are needed to keep our community vibrant and relevant in the 21st century.

Our community is founded on the legacy of intentional design. That legacy started from the very beginning, when a bold plan modeled after Washington, DC, led to the founding of a brand new city in 1821. Nine years later the National Road, U.S. Route 40, connected the frontier of America to the coast, making Indianapolis an instant crossroads. In fact, the first train station to have all the lines converge into one station was built here shortly thereafter, the world's first true Union Station.

In 1902, the first monument to the common solider was dedicated on a circle in the center of the city. Three years later, landscape architect George Kessler developed a world-class parks and boulevard plan that links hundreds of acres of green space and directed a century of future growth. In the 1980s, by intention, Indianapolis became the amateur sports capital of the world. Today Indianapolis is embarking on a mission to become a national cultural center and global life sciences hub.

It is no accident that Indianapolis is a great city. It has been with great deliberation and intent that neighborhoods, parks, art, entertainment, economy, and dreams have been woven together to make one of America's most livable cities. Our community has a tremendous legacy of design and CAP:IC remains committed to that pursuit.